Hebron, Sansana, South Hebron Hills, Sun 3.10.10, Morning
Translator: Charles K.
07:30-10:00
Sansana-Meitar crossing
A few laborers were still crossing to the Israeli side when we arrived, but there were none waiting to be inspected. The peddlers began packing up. Two laborers seated next to their car asked us for help – they don’t know why their permits had been taken from them. We gave them the phone numbers listed on the Machsom Watch information sheet.
Route 60
Flying checkpoints and soldiers at many locations along the way: on the road down to the west, next to Dahariyya, cars are being stopped to check license and registration. Those we saw were released quickly.
At the southern entrance to Hebron, which is blocked, we stop on the side of the road to watch. A soldier starts toward us, but when we see that cars are released quickly we drive on.
There are soldiers at the kvasim junction (literally: Sheep Junction) and at the entrance to Bani Na’im soldiers stand on the roof of a house they took over in what’s called the "Almant kass" procedure (literally: “Grass widow” procedure — meaning, in essence, that the military takes over an inhabited house for its own purposes, either ordering its inhabitants to leave altogether or allowing them limited living quarters within).
Hebron
There’s an army jeep parked opposite the entrance to Kiryat Arba also. There’s a new security guard standing at the first entrance to Kiryat Arba (he says he’s already been there a year), a young man with a large kippah, doesn’t know about Machsom Watch. We gave him a calling card, which he returned to us. He insists on telephoning the police and makes us wait 20 minutes by the roadside. Meanwhile he talks with us and asks about the organization (for example, why are there no male members). At one point he says that we have to telephone the police and request an escort. Fortunately, a police jeep passing by tells him to let us through.
Hebron is quiet, withdrawn and depressing as always. Mostly settlers in the streets. We stop at the grocery in Tel Rumeida. Two Naha”l soldiers approach us, ask who we are. One of them hadn’t heard of Machsom Watch. They’re mainly want to know whether or not Muhammad has a blue ID card. Despite what we tell them, one insists on checking. They tell us they’re leaving Hebron, to be replaced by soldiers from the Kfir brigade.
Hebron
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According to Wye Plantation Accords (1997), Hebron is divided in two: H1 is under Palestinian Authority control, H2 is under Israeli control. In Hebron there are 170,000 Palestinian citizens, 60,000 of them in H2. Between the two areas are permanent checkpoints, manned at all hours, preventing Palestinian movement between them and controlling passage of permit holders such as teachers and schoolchildren. Some 800 Jews live in Avraham Avinu Quarter and Tel Rumeida, on Givat HaAvot and in the wholesale market.
Checkpoints observed in H2:
- Bet Hameriva CP- manned with a pillbox
- Kapisha quarter CP (the northern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- The 160 turn CP (the southern side of Zion axis) - manned with a pillbox
- Avraham Avinu quarter - watch station
- The pharmacy CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tarpat (1929) CP - checking inside a caravan with a magnometer
- Tel Rumeida CP - guarding station
- Beit Hadassah CP - guarding station
Three checkpoints around the Tomb of the Patriarchs
Muhammad D.May-13-2026Hebron - Request for compensation for land expropriation
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Meitar checkpoint / Sansana
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Meitar Checkpoint / Sansana The checkpoint is located on the Green Line and serves as a border crossing between Israel and the West Bank. It is managed by the Border Crossing Authority of the Defense Ministry. It is comprised of sections for the transfer of goods as well as a vehicle checkpoint (intended for holders of blue identity cards, foreign nationals or diplomats and international organizations). Passing of Palestinians is prohibited, except for those with entry permits to Israel. Palestinians are permitted to cross on foot only. The crossing has a DCO / DCL / DCL / DCL (District Coordination Office), a customs unit, supervision, and a police unit. In the last year, a breach has been opened in the fence, not far from the crossing. This breach is known to all, including the army. There does not appear to be any interest in blocking it, probably as it permits needed Palestinian workers without the bureaucratic permits to get to work in Israel. Food stalls and a parking area economy have been created, but incidents of violent abuse by border police have also been recorded. Updated April 2022
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South Hebron Hills
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South Hebron Hills
South Hebron Hills is a large area in the West Bank's southern part.
Yatta is a major city in this area: right in the border zone between the fertile region of Hebron and its surroundings and the desert of the Hebron Hills. Yatta has about 64,000 inhabitants.
The surrounding villages are called Masafer Yatta (Yatta's daughter villages). Their inhabitants subsist on livestock and agriculture. Agriculture is possible only in small plots, especially near streams. Most of the area consists of rocky terraces.Since the beginning of the 1980s, many settlements have been established on the agricultural land cultivated by the Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills region: Carmel, Maon, Susia, Masadot Yehuda, Othniel, and more. Since the settlements were established and Palestinians cultivation areas have been reduced; the residents of the South Hebron Hills have been suffering from harassment by the settlers. Attempts to evict and demolish houses have continued, along with withholding water and electricity. The military and police usually refrain from intervening in violent incidents between settlers and Palestinians do not enforce the law when it comes to the investigation of extensive violent Jewish settlers. The harassment in the South Hebron Hills includes attacking and attempting to burn residential tents, harassing dogs, harming herds, and preventing access to pastures.
There are several checkpoints in the South Hebron Hills, on Routes 317 and 60. In most of them, no military presence is apparent, but rather an array of pillboxes monitor the villages. Roadblocks are frequently set up according to the settlers and the army's needs. These are located at the Zif Junction, the Dura-al Fawwar crossing, and the Sheep Junction at the southern entrance to Hebron.
Updated April 2022
Muhammad D.Jun-7-2026A stone placed by settlers on the road leading to the Thiel family's territory in Rahwa
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